Chelsea title charge anticipated in 2011-12
The current Premier League campaign is still six days shy of its conclusion but supporters of clubs whose focus has already shifted to next season and are dreaming of better days ahead can already bet on the destination of the 2011-12 title on Betfair.
Manchester United are the early [2.9] favourites to claim what would be their 20th English league championship win, however with a busy transfer window anticipated for several of the chasing pack there are a number of teams considered to be contenders.
It is Chelsea that are backed to provide the Red Devils with the fiercest challenge at [3.9], having been the only other side to have finished first over the last seven years, and their push is likely to be inspired by a new manager as double winner Carlo Ancelotti is expected to be axed this summer.
Manchester City are third in line at [5.5] to build on their best ever Premier League performance by climbing all the way to top spot next term, yet while they will make some major additions to boost their chances, they may struggle to juggle a title bid with European success at the first time of trying.
There is also a theory that you need a near miss before being crowned champions. All four previous Premier League winners (Manchester United, Blackburn, Arsenal and Chelsea) were all runners-up or in Arsenal's case finished within seven points of the table-toppers the year before their first success.
The Gunners' nightmare end to the current campaign has affected the support for them halting their soon-to-be seven-year silverware shortage by taking the most prestigious trophy in English football in 2011-12. Their early odds of [9.6] are far closer to Liverpool's ([11.5]) than the frontrunners.
Think a big outsider will deliver? Tottenham are [75.0] with Everton [280.0]...
Published: 19 May 2011
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